A woman involved in a NASA-funded dolphin experiment disclosed her involvement in a sexual relationship with the dolphin she was working with, expressing how she 'missed him' during his absence.

Margaret Howe was assigned the task of teaching Peter, a six-year-old bottlenose dolphin, to vocalize through his blowhole during the 1960s.

However, as the 10-week educational program commenced, an unexpected development occurred between them.

Initially, her goal was to teach him English words to train him to speak like a human, but the dolphin was reaching a stage where he was ‘sexually maturing’.

She explained: “There were three dolphins: Peter, Pamela, and Sissy. Sissy was the largest, assertive, and loud, effectively running the show. Pamela was very timid and apprehensive. Peter was the young male, reaching sexual maturity and somewhat mischievous.”

As Peter swam, bathed, slept, and played with Howe, it’s understandable how a bond formed between them.

Howe noted that the NASA experiment was unique, and she discussed the methods she used to keep Peter focused on his tasks.

In a BBC documentary titled The Girl Who Talked to Dolphins, she revealed how their interactions became physical and the relationship turned sexual.

Her bond with Peter turned sexual (BBC)

Dr. John C. Lilly, who led the experiment, initiated the project by flooding a remote area in St. Thomas with seawater up to 22 inches deep.

Howe's desk was suspended from the ceiling, with a mattress also hanging nearby, protected by a shower curtain.

Once everything was ready, she began teaching Peter immediately, but he had different plans.

Initially, she tried to teach him to say ‘Hello Margaret’, but he struggled with the letter M. Instead of speaking, he appeared with, shall we say, dolphin morning enthusiasm.

Just four weeks into the project, Howe recorded in her diary: “Peter has become sexually aroused several times during the week.”

Margaret Howe taught Peter for 10 weeks (BBC)

She added: “I find that his desires are interfering with our work. He repeatedly pushes himself against my legs, swims around me, tends to nibble, and is generally so excited that he can’t control himself around me.”

This situation eventually led Howe to respond, as she explained: “That need to be together evolved into genuinely enjoying each other’s company, wanting to be together, and missing him when he wasn’t around.

“I had a very close encounter with — I can’t even refer to him as ‘a dolphin’ anymore — Peter.”

She described how she would masturbate him to refocus his attention on the lessons, as taking him to see the female dolphins was too disruptive.

Peter died following the experiment (BBC)

“I allowed that. I wasn’t uncomfortable with it, as long as it wasn’t rough. It became just a part of the routine, like an itch that needed to be scratched and then you move on. That’s how it worked out. It wasn’t private. People could see it,” Howe admitted in the documentary trailer.

“It became part of the routine, like an itch, you scratch it, and then move on.”

Howe clarified that while this was sexual for Peter, it wasn’t for her; she described it as more ‘sensuous’ than sexual.

Tragically, the experiment ended poorly for Peter, who was sent back to Miami, where his health deteriorated significantly.

Veterinarian Andy Williamson concluded that the cause of death was a broken heart, stating: “Margaret could rationalize it, but when she left, could Peter?

“Here’s the love of his life gone.”